This document summarizes Tonya Thomas's volunteer project in Titusville, Florida. She worked with individuals with disabilities ranging from 10 to 65 years old. Her activities included reading to children, listening to an amputee reminisce, grocery shopping for a disabled widower, and tutoring a child. The experience reinforced Tonya's desire to help others and showed her that small acts like giving 30 minutes of her time can make a big impact on someone else's life. She realized that through volunteering, she created joy and anticipation for people, and they in turn helped her. Tonya plans to continue volunteering on weekends after graduation.

1. Titusville Project/PresentationTonya Thomasucfmom1@hotmail.com04/24/2010EEX 4070

2. Introduction to the SettingThe area I chose to volunteer in is an area that I grew up in: Titusville, Florida.The people I choose to assist are individuals who vary in their degrees of inabilities. But undoubtedly excel in many other areas of their lives.

3. Titusville

4. DemographicsA

5. Demographic Continued

6. Fact: There is a near equaling of races throughout (Titusville) Brevard County. However, the economic and educational differences in these ethnic groups are polar opposites.

7. Disability Status of Individuals in Titusville (NONINSTITUTIONALIZED)5-20 years old  726 or 8.7%21-64 years old  4,347 or 20.2%Over 65 years old  3,228 or 41.1%

8. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTLess than 9th grade 1,163 or 4.1%9th -12th no diploma 3,259 or 11.5%High school Graduate (GED included) 8,632 or 30.4%Some College no degree 7,316 or 25.8%Associates Degree 2,585 or 9.1%Bachelors Degree 3,766 or 13.3%Graduates or Professional Degree 1,684 or 5.9%

9. Personal DemographicsMy name is Tonya Thomas, and I am Senior at the University of Central Florida. My major is Interdisciplinary Studies, and my minor is Education. I have four beautiful (aggravating) children and I am currently working as a HR Coordinator for a mid sized company in Rockledge, FL. I have always known that my destiny would be to serve others in some captivity. And after completing this project I have no doubt that that is what I will succeed at professionally.

10. Participant DemographicsThe Participants in this project were African American ranging in ages 10 to 65 years old. All were residents of Titusville.Disabilities included ADHD, a double amputee, and woman who suffered a brain aneurism which left her right side immobile.

11. Engagement Activities

12. Engagement Activities

13. Reflection My heart has always been open to helping others; and I’ve always felt compelled to the field of educating through sociology. I love the feeling of giving to someone a gift that cannot be bought with any amount of money. This experience enabled me to do just that; to give priceless gifts. This experience effected change in my priorities. After graduation, I have vowed to devote at least a few hours each weekend to people like those involved in this project. One would be amazed at how much a person’s mental state can change with just the thought that someone in the world truly cares for them. I’ll have to admit that in the beginning I only had the mindset of satisfying a course requirement. However, as time went on, I realized that me, an average woman with nothing uniquely special about me was creating anticipation and joy in the lives of others. Now that is something I will never forget. By far the biggest impact on me was created by the people who I thought I was helping, who were in essence helping me.

14. Reflection Continued Reading to a child who may only hear stories at school makes a difference, taking time out of my busy schedule to listen to a disabled widower reminisce of her days of glory makes a difference, taking a disabled person to the grocery store or getting their grocery list and going to pick up the groceries for them makes a difference, tutoring a child makes a difference, doing a disabled woman’s hair makes a difference. I will take away from this experience the knowledge that I can make a difference in the lives of others; and no matter how insignificant I may think a half hour of my time is, it can be truly momentous to another. No matter how small, I can make a difference.